Economic overview: In 2000, the economic situation in Oman improved significantly. mainly due to higher oil prices. The government continues to privatize state-owned enterprises, develop a new set of trade laws to attract foreign investment, and increase budgetary spending. Oman continues to liberalize its trade and joined the WTO in November 2000. GDP: Purchasing power parity $19.6 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 4.6% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $7,700 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 3%; industry: 40%; services 57% (1999 est.). Proportion of the population below the poverty line: no data available. Percentage distribution of household income or consumption: for the poorest 10% of households: n/a; by top 10% of households: no data. Inflation rate at consumer prices: -0.8% (2000 est.). Labor force: 850,000 people (1997 est.). Employment structure: no data. Unemployment rate: no data. Budget: revenues: $4.7 billion; expenses: $5.9 billion, including capital investments – $490 million (1999). Spheres of economy: oil production and processing, natural gas production, construction, cement production, copper mining. Growth in industrial production: 4% (2000 est.). Electricity generation: 8.63 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 100%; hydropower: 0%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0% (1999). Electricity consumption: 8.026 billion kWh (1999) Electricity export: 0 kWh (1999). Electricity import: 0 kWh (1999). Agricultural products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, livestock; fish. Exports: $11.1 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Export items: oil, re-export, fish, metals, textiles. Export partners: Japan 27%, China 12%, Thailand 18%, UAE 12%, South Korea 12%, USA (1999). Imports: $4.5 billion (free on board, 2000 est.) Imports: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, livestock, lubricants. Import partners: UAE 26% (mainly for re-export), Japan 16%, UK 9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, USA (1999). External debt: $4.5 billion (2000 est.) Economic aid recipient: $76.4 million (1995) Economic aid donor: Currency: Omani rial. Currency code: OMR. Exchange rate: OMR/USD – 0.3845 (fixed since 1986). Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 300,000 (1999). Mobile cell phones: 120,000 (1999). Telephone system: modern system consisting of terrestrial and microwave links and radiotelephone stations; limited use of coaxial cables; domestic: landlines, microwave radio relay, radiotelephone stations and a local satellite system of 8 ground stations; international: satellite earth stations – 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat. Broadcast stations: AM – 3, FM – 9, shortwave – 2 (1999). Radio receivers: 1.4 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 13 (and 25 low power repeaters) (1999). TVs: 1.6 million (1997). Internet country code: om Internet providers: 1 (2000). Number of users: 50,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: 0 km. Roads: total length: 32,800 km; paved: 9,840 km (including 550 km of motorways); unpaved: 22,960 km (1996 est.) Pipelines: for crude oil -1,300 km; for natural gas – 1,030 km. Ports and harbours: Mathrah, Mina-al-Fal, Rai-Sut. Merchant fleet: total: 4 vessels (displacement 1,000 tons or more) with a total displacement of 18,167 gross register tons / 11,307 long tons of gross tonnage; ships of different types: cargo ships – 2, passenger ships – 1, cargo-passenger ships – 1 (2000 est.). Airports: 143 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 6; over 3,047 m: 4; from 2438 to 3047 m: 1; from 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 137; over 3,047 m: 2; from 2438 to 3047 m: 6; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 56; from 914 to 1,523 m: 37; less than 914 m: 36 (2000 est.). Helipads: 1 (2000 est.).
Armed Forces
Branches of the armed forces: army, navy, air force, paramilitary units (including the Royal Police of Oman). See militarynous.com to know more about Oman Military. Enlistment age: 14 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 771,919 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 429,811 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: male: 26,469 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $2.4 billion (2000) Military spending as part of GDP: 13% (2000).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: no bilateral border agreement reached with the UAE; the northern part of the border on the Musandam peninsula is the administrative boundary.
